Ensure safe drinking water

Unsafe drinking water is arguably one of the most substantive problems facing Bangladesh – and unfortunately one of the most ignored ones. The poor quality of tap water has increased the demand for bottled water, leading to a mushroom growth of new brands of bottled water. However few of the companies producing and marketing bottled water follow the safety regulations properly. And those responsible for regulating it have done little to curb this unholy phenomenon. In an alarming development Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) declared bottled water of five brands of the country unsafe.

The main problem is that few are willing to convert it into a serious political and social issue. The provision of clean water is part of the Sustainable Development Goals and should be considered a constitutional right. In the absence of clean drinking water, the right to life itself lies compromised. Unscrupulous business practices and inadequate oversight has turned the most basic of human needs into a health hazard, and criminal action should be taken against these companies. The need for effective monitoring and oversight is clear too. Evidently many people are buying poison with money in the name of drinking water.

The crisis of safe water in the sprawling capital is so acute that the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) itself encourages people to boil tap water before drinking. There is scarcely anyone who dares drink water directly from the tap for fear of contracting water-borne diseases. The acute shortage of clean water has spawned a thriving business in bottled water. BSTI has issued licences to as many as 150 firms while DWASA has allowed 38 others. In the absence of boiled water and not sure of the piped water supply, the public look upon sealed plastic bottle containers as a safe means for quenching their thirst amid hot and humid conditions.

Taking advantage of this, a number of dishonest businessmen have installed home-based water purifying units in various parts of the city and across the country. Under the circumstances, the relevant authorities should monitor the bottled water firms so that they cannot put imaginary numbers on the bottle labels. Similarly, the relevant authorities need to monitor the business of water supplied in jars for public health safety.

Ensure safe drinking water

Unsafe drinking water is arguably one of the most substantive problems facing Bangladesh and unfortunately one of the most ignored ones. The poor quality of tap water has increased the demand for bottled water, leading to a mushroom growth of new brands of bottled water. However few of the companies producing and marketing bottled water follow the safety regulations properly. And those responsible for regulating it have done little to curb this unholy phenomenon. In an alarming development Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) declared bottled water of five brands of the country unsafe.
The main problem is that few are willing to convert it into a serious political and social issue. The provision of clean water is part of the Sustainable Development Goals and should be considered a constitutional right. In the absence of clean drinking water, the right to life itself lies compromised. Unscrupulous business practices and inadequate oversight has turned the most basic of human needs into a health hazard, and criminal action should be taken against these companies. The need for effective monitoring and oversight is clear too. Evidently many people are buying poison with money in the name of drinking water.
The crisis of safe water in the sprawling capital is so acute that the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) itself encourages people to boil tap water before drinking. There is scarcely anyone who dares drink water directly from the tap for fear of contracting water-borne diseases. The acute shortage of clean water has spawned a thriving business in bottled water. BSTI has issued licences to as many as 150 firms while DWASA has allowed 38 others. In the absence of boiled water and not sure of the piped water supply, the public look upon sealed plastic bottle containers as a safe means for quenching their thirst amid hot and humid conditions.
Taking advantage of this, a number of dishonest businessmen have installed home-based water purifying units in various parts of the city and across the country. Under the circumstances, the relevant authorities should monitor the bottled water firms so that they cannot put imaginary numbers on the bottle labels. Similarly, the relevant authorities need to monitor the business of water supplied in jars for public health safety.

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